SDG series – Cooperative contributions to SDG 13: Climate Action

Cooperatives are key partners in countering climate change and its impacts. In this new edition of Building a Better World Together: Cooperative Contributions to the SDGs, focused on SDG 13 (Climate Action), the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), COPAC, Cooperatives Europe, and ICA’s other regional organisations highlight how cooperatives contribute to climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience through community-led, people-centred approaches across regions and sectors. 

Confronting Climate Action: From Severe Impacts to Strategic Solutions

The year 2024 has marked the highest temperatures on record. Intense heatwaves, droughts, floods, and the decline of ecosystems are deepening social inequalities, endangering livelihoods, and reversing decades of development progress. Climate change has also impacted labour markets, with new opportunities in renewable energy and green industries, while displacing jobs in high-carbon sectors.

The Cooperative Difference

Cooperatives are uniquely placed to advance SDG 13 (Climate Change) through collective, democratic, and community-based approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation. Unlike conventional enterprises that prioritise short-term profit, cooperatives balance economic viability with social and environmental goals.

Built on collective values, cooperatives ensure that environmental action directly improves members’ livelihoods while building long-term community resilience.    

Across sectors, they are making their operations and value chains more sustainable. Their local ownership structure also delivers competitive advantages in renewable energy through democratic control of production and use, local job creation, and fair pricing.

European Cooperatives in Action: Community Solutions for a Green Future

European cooperatives are empowering communities and taking concrete measures to protect the environment and reduce emissions.  

United Kingdom – Reducing emissions in line with global climate goals 
Central Co-op’s emissions reduction plan has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), confirming alignment with EU and global net-zero transition objectives. The co-op will cut direct emissions by 44% by 2030, 90% by 2035, and reduce indirect emissions by 97% by 2040. 

Finland – Supporting climate-smart forestry practices in Vietnam 
Food and Forest Development Finland (FFD) – member of Cooperatives Europe Development Platform – supports Vietnamese smallholder cooperatives making traditional forestry practices more sustainable by encouraging members to prolong tree-rotation cycles, diversify plantation species, and adopt sustainable forest management standards through forest certification. 

Czechia – Boosting energy efficient consumption practices
COOP Czech Republic is deploying unmanned energy-efficient stores in rural areas, reducing transport needs, energy use, and emissions while maintaining access to essential goods. In cities, recycling and waste-pickers’ cooperatives increase circularity and reduce waste-related emissions.

Türkiye – Building youth skills and leadership 
Genç İşi Kooperatifequips young cooperators with the skills needed to lead low-carbon and climate-resilient transitions in their communities, particularly in the agri-food sector. Through the CIRCLE Project and the Youth4Coops initiative with Haliéus (Italy, CEDP member), they are delivering training and empowering young people to lead and promote just and inclusive climate action across cooperatives.

Europe – REScoop.eu for cooperatively reducing carbon emissions
REScoop.eu, the European Federation of Energy Communities, is a growing network of 2,500 energy cooperatives across Europe. By promoting citizen-led, local, and green energy, they help reduce emissions, grow public support, and foster local economic and social development.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges
Despite their significant impact, cooperatives face public and private sector barriers: 

• Access to finance: existing mechanisms often prioritise large-scale private actors and impose complex reporting requirements. 
• Expertise: Many cooperatives in developing countries lack technical capacity and climate data to qualify for funding.  
• Legal barriers: Many cooperatives are not integrated in national policy frameworks

Opportunities
Global momentum around climate action creates new opportunities for cooperatives to scale and increase their impact: 

• Inclusive agendas: COP30’s emphasis on inclusion and indigenous leadership aligns with cooperatives’ values of participation and equity.
• Innovation: Digital tools, carbon measurement, and inter-cooperative partnerships can accelerate sustainable production and circular economy models.
• Collaboration: Stronger partnerships between cooperatives, governments, and international institutions can unlock their full potential in climate and development agendas. 
• Targeted funding: Initiatives like Coopera+ Amazônia show how dedicated investments can generate income, protect ecosystems, and scale climate solutions.
   

Call to action

The brief calls for governments, development partners, and multilateral institutions to take the following steps:  

• Recognise and integrate cooperatives in national climate planning. 
• Expand and adapt climate finance. 
• Invest in capacity and technical support. 
• Create enabling legal and policy frameworks. 
• Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships. 
• Use cooperative governance to ensure fair resource management. 

Download the full policy brief here
COPAC website

This article has been co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of  Cooperatives Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.